DONGGUAN, China – As Africa's plastics packaging market heats up, Riqiang Machinery has secured a bulk order of dozens of extrusion and bag-making machines from African customers. Its production lines are now running at full capacity around the clock to meet the tight delivery schedule.

Full-speed production
Walking through Riqiang's assembly plant, rows of blown film lines and bag-making machines are being tested and prepared for shipment. "This African order is large and requires machines built for tough local conditions," said a production manager. "We have optimized our schedules, and workers are putting in extra shifts to deliver on time."

Why Africa needs more plastic bag equipment
Africa's packaging market is forecast to reach nearly $58.5 billion by 2031, growing at around 4.4% annually. Demand for plastic sacks and bags reached 9.1 million tons in 2024. Rapid urbanization and retail expansion are driving huge needs for food packaging, garbage bags, and industrial sacks – most of which require local production equipment.

Why Riqiang won the order
Riqiang customized its blown film and bag-making machines for Africa's unstable power supply and variable raw material quality. The machines feature reinforced screws and wear-resistant parts, enabling 24/7 operation and efficient use of recycled or local materials. Combined with competitive pricing and "turnkey" solutions (including printers and sealers), this gave Riqiang an edge over European and Turkish rivals.

Looking ahead
"This order is just our entry ticket," said an Riqiang export manager. "With Africa's 1.4 billion people and ongoing transitions toward recyclable bags, our technical strengths fit perfectly." Riqiang is now planning after-sales service centers in Nigeria or Kenya to support long-term growth.

From Dongguan to Africa, Riqiang Machinery is powering the continent's packaging revolution – one machine at a time.